Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Death Domain Cleric Build

Do you feel a certain… affinity for the macabre? Does the idea of wielding necrotic power and commanding the undead fill you with a sense of purpose? If so, the Death Domain Cleric in Baldur’s Gate 3 might be precisely the class you’ve been searching for. This guide will delve into the optimal build for a Death Domain Cleric, enabling you to become a formidable force on the battlefield, capable of both devastating enemies and controlling the forces of the dead. We’ll cover everything from race and ability score allocation to the most effective spells, feats, and equipment.

Understanding the Death Domain Cleric

The Death Domain Cleric, a subclass of the Cleric class, focuses on dealing necrotic damage, manipulating undead, and generally spreading death and decay. Unlike other Cleric subclasses that focus on healing or protection, the Death Domain embraces the darker aspects of divinity. Key features of the Death Domain include:

• Bonus Proficiencies: You gain proficiency with martial weapons, broadening your combat capabilities.
• Reaper: At 2nd level, when you cast a necromancy spell that deals damage to one creature, you can target a second creature within 30 feet of the first with the same spell. This drastically increases your damage output.
• Touch of Death: At 6th level, you gain the ability to add necrotic damage to your weapon attacks, further enhancing your melee potential.
• Divine Strike: At 8th level, once on each of your turns when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can cause the attack to deal extra necrotic damage.
• Improved Reaper: At 17th level, your Reaper ability becomes even more potent, allowing you to target two additional creatures with your necromancy spells.

These features make the Death Domain Cleric a powerful damage dealer, especially against multiple enemies, while still retaining the versatility and utility of a full Cleric.

Race Selection: Embracing the Darkness

While any race can technically be a Death Domain Cleric, certain races offer inherent advantages that complement the class’s strengths. Here are some of the top choices:

• Tiefling (Asmodeus Bloodline): Tieflings, with their Charisma bonus and access to Hellish Rebuke, are a solid choice. The Asmodeus bloodline further enhances this with the ability to cast Burning Hands, adding to their offensive capabilities.
• Drow: Drow possess innate spellcasting abilities like Faerie Fire and Darkness, which can be tactically useful. Their high Dexterity also benefits your Armor Class and initiative.
• Half-Orc: While not traditionally associated with Clerics, the Half-Orc’s Savage Attacks and Relentless Endurance can be surprisingly effective, allowing them to survive longer in melee combat and deal more damage with critical hits.
• Human (Variant): The Variant Human is always a strong option due to the bonus feat at level 1, allowing you to pick up a crucial feat like War Caster or Resilient (Constitution) early on.
• Zariel Tiefling: This tiefling subrace provides you with Thaumaturgy and Searing Smite. This is also a very solid choice.

Ultimately, the best race depends on your preferred playstyle. If you prioritize spellcasting and charisma, Tieflings or Drow are excellent choices. If you prefer a more melee-focused approach, Half-Orc or Human (Variant) can be surprisingly effective.

Ability Score Allocation: Prioritizing Wisdom and Constitution

Ability scores are crucial for defining your character’s strengths and weaknesses. For a Death Domain Cleric, the most important ability scores are:

• Wisdom: This is your primary spellcasting ability. It determines your spell attack bonus, spell save DC, and the number of spells you can prepare. Aim for a starting score of at least 16 (ideally 17 if your race provides a +1 bonus).
• Constitution: Constitution affects your hit points and your ability to maintain concentration on spells. Maintaining concentration on spells like Spirit Guardians and Bless is crucial for your effectiveness. Aim for a starting score of at least 14.
• Strength: While not as important as Wisdom or Constitution, Strength is still necessary for wearing heavy armor. Aim for a score of 14, which is required to avoid movement penalties.
• Dexterity: Dexterity affects your Armor Class, initiative, and Dexterity saving throws. While not a primary stat, having a decent score (10-12) is helpful.
• Intelligence: Intelligence is largely unimportant for a Death Domain Cleric. You can safely dump this stat.
• Charisma: Charisma affects your social interactions and certain skills. While not crucial, having a decent score can be helpful for dialogue options.

A recommended starting ability score array (using point buy) might look like this:

• Strength: 14
• Dexterity: 10
• Constitution: 14
• Intelligence: 8
• Wisdom: 16
• Charisma: 12

Adjust these scores based on your race and preferred playstyle. For example, if you’re playing a Tiefling, you could start with 17 Wisdom and 13 Charisma, improving them further with ability score increases.

Spells: Unleashing Necrotic Power

The Death Domain Cleric has access to a wide range of spells, but certain spells are particularly effective for this subclass. Here are some of the most important spells to consider:

Cantrips

• Toll the Dead: This is your primary damage cantrip, dealing necrotic damage and scaling with your level. It’s especially effective against injured enemies.
• Sacred Flame: A reliable ranged damage cantrip that targets Dexterity saving throws.
• Guidance: An invaluable utility cantrip that provides a bonus to ability checks.
• Resistance: Grants a creature a bonus to saving throws.
• Spare the Dying: Stabilizes a dying creature.

Level 1 Spells

• Inflict Wounds: A powerful single-target necrotic damage spell.
• Bless: A fantastic buff that improves attack rolls and saving throws for your party.
• Cure Wounds: A reliable healing spell.
• Guiding Bolt: Deals radiant damage and grants advantage on the next attack roll against the target.

Level 2 Spells

• Spiritual Weapon: Summons a floating weapon that attacks enemies, dealing force damage. This is a crucial spell for sustained damage output.
• Blindness/Deafness: Debuffs enemies, imposing disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
• Hold Person: Paralyzes a humanoid, making them vulnerable to attacks.
• Lesser Restoration: Cures diseases and conditions.

Level 3 Spells

• Spirit Guardians: Creates a damaging aura around you, dealing radiant or necrotic damage to enemies within range. This is arguably the most important spell for a Death Domain Cleric.
• Animate Dead: Raises undead creatures to fight for you. This is a core spell for the Death Domain, allowing you to command the undead.
• Bestow Curse: Imposes a curse on a creature, hindering their abilities.
• Mass Healing Word: Heals multiple allies at once.

Level 4 Spells

• Blight: Deals massive necrotic damage to a single target, especially effective against plants.
• Guardian of Faith: Summons a guardian that attacks enemies who come near it.
• Death Ward: Grants a creature resistance to necrotic damage and prevents them from dying instantly.

Level 5 Spells

• Contagion: Infects a creature with a debilitating disease.
• Flame Strike: Deals fire and radiant damage in a large area.
• Mass Cure Wounds: Heals multiple allies for a significant amount.

Level 6 Spells

• Harm: Deals massive necrotic damage to a single target.
• Heal: Restores a large amount of hit points to a single target.
• Create Undead: Creates powerful undead creatures like ghouls and ghasts.

Spellcasting Strategy: Focus on using Spirit Guardians to deal sustained damage, Animate Dead to build an undead army, and Toll the Dead for consistent ranged damage. Use Inflict Wounds and Blight for single-target burst damage. Don’t forget to use Bless and other buffing spells to enhance your party’s effectiveness.

Feats: Enhancing Your Abilities

Feats provide additional abilities and customization options for your character. Here are some of the most useful feats for a Death Domain Cleric:

• War Caster: Grants advantage on Constitution saving throws to maintain concentration on spells, allows you to cast spells as opportunity attacks, and allows you to perform somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in your hands. This is an essential feat for any spellcaster who plans to be in melee combat.
• Resilient (Constitution): Increases your Constitution score by 1 and grants proficiency in Constitution saving throws. This is another excellent way to improve your concentration checks.
• Tough: Increases your hit point maximum by 2 for each level. This is a simple but effective way to improve your survivability.
• Ability Score Improvement: Increases two ability scores by 1, or one ability score by 2. Use this to maximize your Wisdom and Constitution.
• Magic Initiate: Lets you learn 2 Cantrips and one 1st-level spell from another class. Consider picking up Eldritch Blast for consistent damage, or find other ways to customize your character.

Feat Progression: Aim to take War Caster or Resilient (Constitution) at level 4, followed by Ability Score Improvement to maximize your Wisdom. Consider taking Tough or another utility feat at later levels.

Equipment: Arming Yourself for Death

The right equipment can significantly enhance your effectiveness in combat. Here’s a breakdown of the most important equipment to look for:

• Armor: Heavy armor is essential for a Death Domain Cleric. Prioritize finding the best heavy armor you can, such as Plate Armor or Adamantine Armor. The Adamantine Armor has special properties that can greatly assist you.
• Weapon: While you can use any martial weapon, a mace or warhammer is a good choice for dealing bludgeoning damage. Consider using a shield for extra protection. Look for weapons with magical properties that enhance your damage output or provide additional benefits.
• Shield: Use a shield to increase your Armor Class and survivability. Look for magical shields with additional benefits, such as resistance to certain types of damage.
• Amulet: Look for amulets that increase your spellcasting ability, such as the Amulet of the Devout, or that provide other useful benefits, such as resistance to certain types of damage.
• Rings: Rings can provide a variety of useful benefits, such as increased saving throws, resistance to damage, or improved spellcasting.
• Boots: Boots can provide increased movement speed or other useful benefits, such as resistance to certain types of damage.

Specific Items to Look For:

• Blood of Lathander: A mace that emits light and deals extra radiant damage to undead.
• Amulet of the Devout: Increases your spellcasting ability and provides additional benefits.
• Adamantine Armor: Provides resistance to critical hits and reduces damage from bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing attacks.

Multiclassing: Dipping into Darkness

While the Death Domain Cleric is a powerful class on its own, multiclassing can provide additional benefits and customization options. Here are a few potential multiclass options:

• Fighter (1-2 levels): Taking 1 level in Fighter grants you proficiency in all armor and weapons, as well as a Fighting Style (such as Defense or Great Weapon Fighting). Taking 2 levels grants you Action Surge, which allows you to take an extra action on your turn.
• Paladin (2 levels): Taking 2 levels in Paladin grants you Divine Smite, which allows you to deal extra radiant damage with your weapon attacks. This can be a significant damage boost, especially against undead creatures.
• Wizard (Necromancy School) (3 Levels): This option would be great for flavor, but may not result in more overall powerful gameplay.

Multiclassing Considerations: Multiclassing can delay your access to higher-level Cleric spells, so it’s important to weigh the benefits against the drawbacks. Generally, a 1-2 level dip is more beneficial than a deeper multiclass.

Gameplay Strategies: Mastering the Art of Death

Here are some general gameplay strategies for playing a Death Domain Cleric:

• Positioning: Stay in the middle of the battlefield, close enough to use your melee attacks and cast Spirit Guardians, but far enough away to avoid taking too much damage.
• Concentration: Protect your concentration on spells like Spirit Guardians and Bless. Use War Caster and Resilient (Constitution) to improve your concentration checks.
• Undead Army: Use Animate Dead to raise undead creatures and command them to attack your enemies.
• Damage Focus: Prioritize dealing damage to multiple enemies with Spirit Guardians, Toll the Dead, and your Reaper ability.
• Buffs and Debuffs: Use Bless to buff your allies and Blindness/Deafness or Bestow Curse to debuff your enemies.
• Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on the situation. Sometimes you’ll need to focus on healing, while other times you’ll need to focus on damage or crowd control.

Conclusion: Embracing Your Destiny

The Death Domain Cleric is a powerful and versatile class in Baldur’s Gate 3. By following this guide, you can create a formidable character capable of both dealing devastating damage and commanding the forces of the dead. Embrace the darkness, master your spells, and become a true agent of death. With careful planning and skillful execution, you’ll be an unstoppable force on the battlefield, feared by your enemies and respected by your allies. Go forth and conquer!